Today is the first day of Saturnalia, the ancient Roman holiday that I have made a tradition of celebrating on this blog (see here and here). The Encyclopedia Romana describes Saturnalia as follows:
During the holiday, restrictions were relaxed and the social order inverted. Gambling was allowed in public. Slaves were permitted to use dice and did not have to work. . . Within the family, a Lord of Misrule was chosen. Slaves were treated as equals, allowed to wear their masters’ clothing, and be waited on at meal time in remembrance of an earlier golden age thought to have been ushered in by the god. In the Saturnalia, Lucian relates that “During My week the serious is barred; no business allowed. Drinking, noise and games and dice, appointing of kings and feasting of slaves, singing naked, clapping of frenzied hands, an occasional ducking of corked faces in icy water—such are the functions over which I preside.”
Sadly, Saturnalia usually falls right around the time when I have to grade large piles of exams. In the spirit of inverting the social order, I have in the past suggested that the responsibility for grading these exams should be transferred to the students. Unruly student commenters on Saturnalia posts from previous years sometimes objected on the grounds that I didn’t propose that I should be the one to take the exam. That, however, was because exams occur before Saturnalia begins. Blame the academic calendar, not me (or perhaps blame those nefarious ancient Roman academics who made sure that Saturnalia only begins after the semester is over). However, I’m actually willing to make that exchange. I’m happy to take the exam if I can get out of doing the grading. After all, I’m the one who wrote the questions, so I’m pretty sure I know all the answers.
We could also perhaps celebrate Saturnalia right here at the VC by reversing our own usual social order. The commenters could write blog posts, and the bloggers could comment. On second thought, however, many commenters are already writing essays that are as long as posts, and many of the bloggers spend a lot of time commenting on our own posts. So a blogging Saturnalia might not be too much different from business as usual. All that remains to do in order to properly celebrate a VC Saturnalia is to choose our official Lord of Misrule.
guy in the veal calf office says:
All that remains to do in order to properly celebrate VC Saturnalia is to choose our official Lord of Misrule.
We already did.
(Thank you, I’ll be here all week). guy in the veal calf office(Quote)
FantasiaWHT says:
You know, that might be a fairly good “test” of student’s knowledge — have them all grade an essay you wrote on the class topic, having them praise what you got right and correct what you got wrong, excoriate you for what you missed, etc. Then you grade their grading. FantasiaWHT(Quote)
EMB says:
I was once asked to grade homework for a class I was taking. Fortunately, another qualified grader was found. EMB(Quote)
PeteP says:
the ‘frenzied hand clapping’ has always been my favorite .... PeteP(Quote)
Anderson says:
Within the family, a Lord of Misrule was chosen
Coincidentally, word is that Bernanke is to be re-confirmed.
So a blogging Saturnalia might not be too much different from business as usual.
Indeed. Saturn, lord of the internet .... I’m reminded of the wonderful weird book Saturn and Melancholy by Panofsky et al., on the iconology of — you guessed it — Saturn and melancholy, w/ particular focus on Durer’s Melencolia I. I think that if Durer had etched that today, a laptop computer, probably running Windows Vista, would appear in the corner. Anyway, the book is definitely worth investigation by all Saturn-lovers. Anderson(Quote)
Avid reader, reluctant poster says:
Not only would I rather take my own exam than grade the ones I have to, I’d even rather take your exam than grade. I’d take the LSAT, MCAT, GMAT, MRI, GRE, IQ or ultrasound — anything. In fact, I’d rather hit my head repeatedly against a brick wall than grade. FantasiaWHT’s proposal is the stuff of nightmares this time of year, sound though it may be in theory. Avid reader, reluctant poster(Quote)
Eli Rabett says:
Does that mean that those of us who comment, get to put up posts and close off comments when the Volokhs get mean? Eli Rabett(Quote)
Eric Rasmusen says:
Since Saturnalia is a traditional time to put off grading exams, take a look at the post I wrote a few days ago on “Christmas, Saturnalia, and Sol Invictus”, for another example of how what we’ve all heard is the consensus is probably wrong. Eric Rasmusen(Quote)
24AheadDotCom says:
Can I delete posts from this blog that make me look bad, make me feel uncomfortable, or that interfere with my career goals, such as of part of the GOP machine? (Note: that’s not a reference to Somin, at least not yet). 24AheadDotCom(Quote)
Soronel Haetir says:
There is only one proper nominee, he of the deadly drinking game. Soronel Haetir(Quote)
Chris Travers says:
The reverse of social order seems relatively common at least in pagan Europe during either Winter solstice type celebrations or yearly transitions. I suspect our cultural practice of sending kids around begging/threatening our neighbors in Halloween is a good example (and similar begging was seen in yule celebrations in Scandinavia).
May have something to do with tearing the world down to build it anew if Mircea Eliade is right. Chris Travers(Quote)
theobromophile says:
That, too, is a tradition that needs inverting: Prof. Somin, you need a Lady of Misrule! theobromophile(Quote)
John Burgess says:
Even in Florida, it’s getting a little nippy for going around singing naked.
Give it a week or two, maybe even just a few days, and things will be back to their Haulover Beach norms... John Burgess(Quote)
U.Va. Grad says:
J. Aldridge, of course. DRINK! U.Va. Grad(Quote)
Happy Saturnalia! | Liberal Whoppers says:
rarango says:
Wow–Professor Posner has just described the US Senate! rarango(Quote)
Fedya says:
Nobody is celebraing Festivus instead? Fedya(Quote)
Joseph Slater says:
See also the Jubilee celebrations, historically. Joseph Slater(Quote)
Dudeman says:
“...[s]laves were treated as equals, allowed to wear their masters’ clothing, and be waited on at meal time in remembrance of an earlier golden age thought to have been ushered in by the god..”
Two questions:
When is dinner?
Do you have any suits in a 52 Xtra-Long? Dudeman(Quote)
geokstr says:
Wow! You mean, inverting, like, government employees and congresscritters would have to work for me for a change?
I could get behind that idea. Too bad it would only be for one day a year; still, that would be one day more than we get now. geokstr(Quote)
rarango says:
Before my comment is moderated, would like to apologize to professor Somin–This was his post, and not professor Posners. rarango(Quote)
Dan Weber says:
KEEP SATURN IN SATURNALIA! Dan Weber(Quote)
Dennis N says:
I’m all for the singing naked part. Dennis N(Quote)
Anderson says:
I honestly can’t figure which would be more repulsive to others, my nakedness, or my singing.
Probably the latter. Anderson(Quote)
alittlesense says:
Sol Invictus? Didn’t he used to have a men’s wear store down at the corner of toity-toid and toid?
Right next to R. Stiltskin’s metal recycling business. alittlesense(Quote)
ChrisIowa says:
Since traditions are being inverted, the the Lord of Misrule should be a lady. ChrisIowa(Quote)
Dennis N says:
LOL!
I’m the only guy I know who was asked by the pastor to sing more quietly. Something about making Salve Regina sound like a drinking song. Dennis N(Quote)
Patent Lawyer says:
Drinking, noise, games, and dice? Well, I was planning on heading down to the wargaming club to play out a simulation of Operation Barbarossa on Christmas Day, so that actually shouldn’t be too hard to do. Patent Lawyer(Quote)
BK says:
Prof. Somin,
I would be happy to grade the exams for your Con Law I class. I’m pretty sure I will be able to identify which one is mine. BK(Quote)
kumquat says:
As compelling a candidate as J. Aldridge is, I’m going to have to vote for Sarcastro as Lord of Misrule. kumquat(Quote)
ChrisTS says:
Oh, joy. My favorite holiday. I’m so happy to see all the VC gang being quirky. But wait, that’s the norm so... ChrisTS(Quote)